Istanbul,the area of Marmara Region contains some 11,200,000 residents.To take a comfortable breaks to Istanbul in this winter.The national capital,Ankara,is situated 220 miles east of Istanbul,while Adalar is 12 miles to the southeast.This dynamic place is,without a doubt,a world-class city.You simply can't visit here and not see the Hagia Sophia and the Hippodrome.The Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace are also iconic sights here.

Get a taste of royal life at Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace is the largest royal residence in Istanbul and it served as the main residence to the Ottoman Sultans for almost 400 years.The grounds are massive,but perhaps the most impressive part of it all are the Harem Apartments–a place with more than 400 rooms for the Sultan’s many concubines,wives,children,and extended family members.

Pretend you’re a sultan at Dolmabahçe Palace

This palace was home to 6 different sultans towards the end of the Ottoman period.While in the past the Sultan and his family had lived in Topkapi Palace,times were changing and the Ottoman’s felt Topkapi was lacking the luxury and style of the new era.Naturally,a new palace had to be built.And what’s a new palace without the world’s largest Bohemian crystal chandelier?(Courtesy of Queen Victoria.)